# Make: what it does, who it is for and alternatives > Make: Build automations on a visual canvas that move data between apps, with filters, routers and AI steps. Generous free plan for small teams. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/make · Updated 2026-10-20 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Updated October 20, 2026 · By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) Build automations on a visual canvas that move data between apps, with filters, routers and AI steps. Generous free plan for small teams. [Automation & workflows](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/automation-workflows) · Free plan · Free lesson Official site: [make.com](https://www.make.com) ## What Make does You can build a scenario by typing a prompt, dragging modules onto the canvas, or from an AI assistant through Make's MCP server. It connects to thousands of apps, and any app with an API can be added as a custom integration. AI agents can be given a goal, tools and limits, and you can see the reasoning behind each step. ## Who Make is for - Operations managers - Marketers - Small business owners - Sales ops teams ## Key features - Build automations by prompting or drag-and-drop on a visual canvas - Connects to 3,000+ apps, plus custom integrations for any API - AI agents with goals, tools, limits and visible reasoning - MCP server to run automations from Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini - Add JavaScript or Python where needed - Role-based access, audit logs and real-time analytics ## Privacy and data States SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 and ISO 27001, GDPR adherence, and encryption at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.2/1.3). Source: [Make’s own page](https://www.make.com/en/security). Before you put client data in, check your company’s AI rules and the plan’s data settings. ## Learn Make free on Stepthrough - Free lesson: [Your First Make.com Scenario: Google Forms to Google Sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/make-com-google-forms-to-google-sheets) (12 min) - Comparison: [AI Agent Builders Compared: n8n, Make, Zapier, Relevance AI and Lindy (2026)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/ai-agent-builders-compared) - Comparison: [Best n8n Alternatives for Small Business (2026)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/best-n8n-alternatives) - Comparison: [Best Zapier Alternatives for Small Business (2026)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/best-zapier-alternatives) - Comparison: [n8n vs Make: Which Automation Tool Fits You (2026)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/n8n-vs-make) - Comparison: [n8n vs Zapier vs Make for a small business: which to start with for AI automation](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/zapier-vs-make-vs-n8n) - Comparison: [The best workflow automation tools for office work in 2026](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/best-workflow-automation-tools) - Comparison: [Zapier vs Make: Which Is Better for Small Business (2026)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare/zapier-vs-make) ## Alternatives to Make Other AI automation tools in the directory. - [**n8n**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/n8n) Free trial A visual workflow builder that connects your apps and adds AI agents to the steps in between. Runs in the cloud or free on your own server. - [**Run Solo Studio**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/run-solo-studio) Paid Solo Operator Stack is a Notion workspace for freelancers and solo consultants plus six import-ready n8n workflows, such as a daily overdue-invoice reminder and a Sunday digest email. $79 one time; the automations need n8n. - [**Guardian**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/guardian) Free plan Approval and audit layer for n8n workflows and AI agents: each action is checked against your policy first, and is allowed, held for a person to approve, or denied, with a tamper-evident record. Free to start, no credit card. - [**Truquence**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/truquence) Free Open-source command-line check for automations: give it an exported n8n run and what each node should have produced, and it answers PASS, FAIL or UNKNOWN, offline. Catches runs that say success but output the wrong data. Nothing is installed in your n8n. - [**Zapier**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/zapier) Free plan The best-known no-code automation tool, linking thousands of apps with triggers and actions. Add AI steps, tables and forms to finish whole processes. - [**Microsoft Power Automate**](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/tool/microsoft-power-automate) Free trial Automate approvals, file handling and data entry across Microsoft 365 and other apps. Includes desktop automation for older software. [All 26 AI automation tools](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/automation-workflows) ## Frequently asked questions **What is Make?** Build automations on a visual canvas that move data between apps, with filters, routers and AI steps. Generous free plan for small teams. You can build a scenario by typing a prompt, dragging modules onto the canvas, or from an AI assistant through Make's MCP server. It connects to thousands of apps, and any app with an API can be added as a custom integration. AI agents can be given a goal, tools and limits, and you can see the reasoning behind each step. **Who is Make for?** Make fits operations managers, marketers, small business owners and sales ops teams, and other office teams with the same job to do. **Is Make free?** Make has a free plan; paid plans add more usage or features. Plans change often, so check the official pricing page before you commit. **What are some alternatives to Make?** Other AI automation tools include n8n, Run Solo Studio, Guardian, Truquence and Zapier. **Is Make safe for work data?** States SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 and ISO 27001, GDPR adherence, and encryption at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.2/1.3). Check your own company’s rules, and use a business plan with training turned off for client data. ## “Listed on Stepthrough” badge Add this badge to the Make website, press page or docs. It links to this page, so your visitors can see the listing. Copy the HTML ```text Listed on Stepthrough ``` Checked against Make’s official site on October 20, 2026: [source 1](https://www.make.com/en), [source 2](https://www.make.com/en/security). Spotted something out of date? Email [rbreen@ynteractive.com](mailto:rbreen@ynteractive.com). Listings are free; [submit your AI tool](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/submit). [The full AI tools directory](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools) · [Automation & workflows](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-tools/automation-workflows) · [Tool comparisons](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/compare)